Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Agosto Em Osage

Agosto Em Osage

Can't wait for the North American tour of August: Osage County to get your fix of Tracy Letts' landmark play?

Well, you actually have a couple options, albeit expensive ones.

First, you get on a play bound for Melbourne, Australia, where the Westons and Aikens continue to hold court at the Melbourne Theatre Company through July 4.

In addition to those who already told me that they so the production by the time I posted my story on the opening, several additional Aussie friends have taken my recommendation to see the production and all have raved. They've said:

AWESOME advice...

We saw it last night and were both BLOWN AWAY! Thanks for the tip - Robyn Neven as Violet was MESMERISING!!!

and

Hey Steve.. Just LOVED August: Osage County. It was so electric. Just loved the pace and performances. Especially the Violet role played by our Dame of theatre Robyn Nevin. Have you ever heard of her - she is amazing.

It really was astounding - if I could see plays like that every time I went to the theatre - I would feel as if I was in Heaven!

OMG - cannot wait to see that play again... Amazing...

and

I saw August Osage County in Melbourne last night and I loved it. Easily the greatest night at the theatre I've had this year - if not, for years. It's superb. Robyn Nevin's performance as Violet is transformative and magnetic to watch.

If Australia is too far (these days, it's not nearly as expensive as it had been) and you can speak Portugese, you might consider visiting Lisbon. That's right. There is a production playing right now at the Portugese capital's Teatro Nacional D. Maria II!

Imagine my delight this morning in receiving an e-mail from one of my friends who landed in Lisbon (Lisboa) yesterday. He wrote:

It seems to me that August: Osage County is playing here in Lisbon - we took a picture of the poster for you

West Side Story is here as well - perhaps they will hire Swedes to play the Jets!

The production began June 25 and runs through August 2. The Teatro Nacional's Web site includes the following description of the play (you've got to love this very rough translation from Portugese, a language I do not speak):

All the happy families are identical and all the unfortunate families the Saints to her way. When, in a night, in the rural environment of Oklahoma, the alcoholic patriarch disappears mysterious, the big clan of the Weston unites immediately for consolation of the mother and for will hurry the motive of the disappearance of the father. Seeing forced it confront hidden truths and surprising secrets, the family ends up be involved in an argument with the matriarch Violet, an addicted woman in pharmaceuticals and unstable psychological state, that is found in the environment of this stormy family.

Oh to be able to see how this show translates, quite literally.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Labels: August Osage County, Australia, Lisbon, Melbourne, Melbourne Theatre Company, Play, Portugal, Robyn Nevin, Touring Production, Tracy Letts

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Tuesday, June 30, 2009 2 comments

August In Australia

August In Australia

This evening marks the opening night for the Australian premiere engagement of Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning August: Osage County at the Melbourne Theatre Company.

It's also the first time the play has been produced beyond the reach of the Steppenwolf ensemble members, including Anna D. Shapiro, who directed the show in Chicago, New York and London. Instead, Simon Phillips takes the helm of a cast that includes Robyn Nevin as Violet Weston, Jane Menelaus as Barbara Fordham, Deidre Rubenstein as Mattie Fae Aiken, Rebekah Stone as Ivy Weston, Heidi Arena as Karen Weston and Roger Oakley as Charlie Aiken.

For those of you who were fortunate enough to see Cate Blanchett in the excellent 2005 Brooklyn Academy of Music mounting of Hedda Gabler, you'll recall that Nevin was the director of that fine revival.

Steve On Broadway's eyes and ears on the ground in Melbourne have already told me:

What a fantastic play!

I can see why it would resonate so strongly with an American audience -- it resonated pretty strongly here as well -- audible gasps, cheers, laughter to dead silence. But what fantastic writing. Gifts to the actors -- beautifully drawn characters, etc., etc., etc., etc. (insert rave here).

So hooray for good theatre -- long may it reign! And replenish our souls!

My source also tells me that Robyn Nevin, who is also among Australia's favorite character actors, is marvelous and can "make the audience turn on a dime."

Another friend in Melbourne tells me:

EVERYONE is talking about Osage County!

I only wish I could be there, but I'm certainly letting all my other friends in Melbourne know that they should not miss this play.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Labels: August Osage County, Australia, Deidre Rubenstein, Heidi Arena, Jane Menelaus, Melbourne, Melbourne Theatre Company, Opening Night, Play, Robyn Nevin, Roger Oakley, Simon Phillips, Tracy Letts

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Thursday, May 28, 2009 2 comments